10 Tips for Writing Essay Exams

4 minute read

An essay exam is a type of examination that requires a respondent to write essays in response to exam questions. In some examinations, a single essay question or a set of essay questions will make up the entirety of an assessment. In other instances, essay examinations may also feature multiple-choice questions and short answer questions in addition to an essay. Essay exams are advantageous since they measure your knowledge synthesis and capacity to organize your thoughts on paper. They allow you to show your instructor or examiner how well you comprehend the fundamental ideas that form the course's foundation and your analytical and writing abilities.

If you find writing essays in examinations difficult, look no further. In today’s post, we’ll be presenting you with 10 tips for writing essay exams.

Preparing for the Exam

Become more proficient in grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Essays with good grammar, spelling, and punctuation are easier to grade since they are simpler to comprehend. If an examiner reads an essay with poor grammar, they might struggle to understand it, potentially moving on to another. Your grammar, spelling, and punctuation should be of an acceptable level to avoid being part of the "dreaded batch of papers." Moreover, mastering grammar allows you to spend more time generating a compelling essay and less on proofreading.

Diction matters

Your writing will be more captivating and convincing if you choose terms appropriate for the tone and aim of your essay. Avoid acronyms and colloquialisms to maintain a professional tone. Ensure you use words appropriately; avoid employing words you don't understand. A thesaurus or dictionary is excellent for expanding your vocabulary and diversifying your writing.

If preparing for an English essay exam, check out our 50 Words To Impress Your English Examiner.

Revise and review

Review all course material thoroughly, as the concepts and ideas discussed throughout the course are essential. Creating a study plan can help you organize your schedule and allocate adequate time for different parts of the course. For guidance, see our post on how to create a study timetable.

If procrastination is a challenge, try the Pomodoro Technique. Learn more in our post: The Pomodoro Technique: How To Study When You Don’t Know Where To Start.

Use past exam papers

Using past exam papers helps you understand exam structure, question types, and required information. Look for past papers in your institution's archives if you're in college or university.

Write under pressure

Practice writing longhand within time constraints to simulate exam conditions. Pick a practice question, set a timer, and write. This will boost your confidence and help identify knowledge gaps.

Writing for the Exam

Pinpoint what the question is asking

Underline the verbs in the question to determine the essay's focus. Action words dictate the content of your essay. Misinterpreting these words can lead to incorrect responses.

Examples of action verbs:

Analyze: Break the question into parts and examine in detail.
Argue: Support a position using logical reasoning.
Critique: Evaluate a theory's advantages and disadvantages with evidence.
Define: Provide a precise meaning or explanation.
Explain: Clarify how something works or came to be.

4 steps for writing an essay outline:

Consider your thesis statement and its supporting arguments.
Organize brainstorming notes into key points to achieve your objective.
Identify the main arguments for your body paragraphs.
Create an outline to guide your essay structure.

Manage your time

Divide the total time into sections for each essay part (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion). Leave some time for proofreading and corrections.

Always proofread your work

Check for grammatical mistakes, ensure ideas flow, and confirm you addressed the question thoroughly before submitting your essay.

Things to avoid

Avoid excuses: If unprepared, do not include this on your response. Address concerns with your instructor in advance.
Avoid "kitchen sink" answers: Include only relevant points directly answering the question.
Don’t "pad" your answer: Focus on concise, pertinent content instead of filler material.

Considerations

Read the question carefully and note its requirements.
Draft an answer key with key arguments to stay organized.
Follow a clear essay structure: introduction, body, and conclusion.
Ensure handwriting is legible for ease of grading.

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